NameCensus.

UK surname

Brookshaw

A habitational surname derived from a residence near a small stream or brook.

In the 1881 census there were 207 people recorded with the Brookshaw surname, ranking it #12,555 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 334, ranked #13,640, down from #12,555 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Betley, London parishes and Coppenhall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include York, Cheshire East and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brookshaw is 387 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.4%.

1881 census count

207

Ranked #12,555

Modern count

334

2016, ranked #13,640

Peak year

1999

387 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brookshaw had 207 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,555 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016, ranked #13,640.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 340 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brookshaw surname distribution map

The map shows where the Brookshaw surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Brookshaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brookshaw over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 159 #12,400
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 207 #12,555
1891 historical 232 #13,429
1901 historical 311 #11,363
1911 historical 340 #10,490
1997 modern 367 #11,751
1998 modern 382 #11,779
1999 modern 387 #11,722
2000 modern 375 #11,949
2001 modern 370 #11,904
2002 modern 378 #11,939
2003 modern 363 #12,096
2004 modern 338 #12,781
2005 modern 327 #13,011
2006 modern 335 #12,883
2007 modern 324 #13,322
2008 modern 329 #13,286
2009 modern 340 #13,244
2010 modern 351 #13,220
2011 modern 343 #13,277
2012 modern 334 #13,443
2013 modern 352 #13,130
2014 modern 345 #13,396
2015 modern 337 #13,560
2016 modern 334 #13,640

Geography

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Where Brookshaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Betley, London parishes, Coppenhall, Manchester and Eastbourne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to York, Cheshire East, Shropshire and Wolverhampton. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Betley Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Coppenhall Cheshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Eastbourne Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 York 006 York
2 Cheshire East 035 Cheshire East
3 Shropshire 013 Shropshire
4 Wolverhampton 007 Wolverhampton
5 Cheshire East 050 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brookshaw

These lists show first names that appear often with the Brookshaw surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brookshaw

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brookshaw, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Brookshaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brookshaw household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Brookshaw is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brookshaw is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brookshaw falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brookshaw is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Brookshaw, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brookshaw

The surname BROOKSHAW is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English words "broc" meaning stream or brook, and "sceaga" meaning small wood or grove. The name would have been given to someone who lived near a small wooded area near a brook or stream.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name is believed to be Brocschaghe, which appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195. Other early spellings include Brokschaghe (1219) and Brockshaw (1379). These variations highlight the evolution of the name's spelling over time.

The BROOKSHAW surname is closely associated with the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire in northern England, where many families with this name resided. Notably, the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the surname has a long and established history in these regions.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was Robert de Brokschaghe, who was mentioned in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219. Another notable bearer of the name was John Brookshaw, a prominent merchant and landowner from Lancashire, who lived in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the BROOKSHAW family was well-established in the town of Rochdale, Lancashire. Thomas Brookshaw (1548-1624) was a respected landowner and member of the local gentry in Rochdale during this period.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain William Brookshaw (1620-1678) fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was noted for his bravery in battle. He later became a prominent figure in the local government of Lancashire.

Reverend George Brookshaw (1734-1805) was an influential clergyman and author from Yorkshire, known for his theological writings and sermons.

In the 19th century, Samuel Brookshaw (1785-1853) was a renowned botanist and illustrator from Lancashire, who produced numerous detailed illustrations of plants and flowers, which were highly regarded for their accuracy and artistic merit.

Throughout its history, the BROOKSHAW surname has been associated with various professions, including landowners, merchants, clergymen, soldiers, and naturalists. Its deep roots in northern England, particularly Lancashire and Yorkshire, reflect the name's enduring presence in these regions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brookshaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brookshaw surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 51 Brookshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.44x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 51 11.44x
Lancashire 44 1.84x
Staffordshire 31 4.55x
Devon 19 4.52x
Sussex 19 5.58x
Middlesex 9 0.45x
Surrey 9 0.91x
Yorkshire 6 0.30x
Derbyshire 5 1.58x
Gloucestershire 5 1.26x
Caernarfonshire 3 3.67x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.78x
Herefordshire 1 1.21x
Kent 1 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.37x
Shropshire 1 0.57x
Warwickshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walgherton in Cheshire leads with 16 Brookshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 14545.45x.

Place Total Index
Walgherton 16 14545.45x
Barton Upon Irwell 15 83.15x
Stoke Damerel 15 50.99x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 31.53x
Monks Coppenhall 11 65.40x
Betley 10 1754.39x
Battersea 9 12.11x
Cuckfield 9 261.63x
Wednesfield 8 79.76x
Barnsley 6 29.07x
Batherton 6 30000.00x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 8.30x
Bridgemere 5 5555.56x
Brighton 5 7.28x
Eastbourne 5 31.91x
Butterworth 4 68.49x
Hough 4 2105.26x
Mile End Old Town London 4 9.31x
St Pancras London 4 2.46x
West Dean 4 62.21x
West Derby 4 5.71x
Buxton 3 111.94x
Crewe In Nantwich 3 1034.48x
Dukinfield 3 14.56x
Llandudno 3 103.09x
Manchester 3 2.78x
Rowley Regis 3 15.80x
Stoke 3 176.47x
Ardwick 2 9.26x
Crich 2 97.09x
Lea 2 4000.00x
Aston 1 0.71x
Bilston 1 7.57x
Canterbury St Mary 1 21.65x
Chadderton 1 8.54x
Congleton 1 12.99x
Devonport 1 20.70x
Hereford St Owen 1 36.63x
Linby 1 454.55x
Liverpool 1 0.69x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 8.29x
Ruardean 1 111.11x
Salford 1 1.42x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.81x
Stretford 1 7.59x
West Bromwich 1 2.56x
Wisbech St Peter 1 15.60x
Wolstanton Knutton 1 24.04x
Woore 1 217.39x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brookshaw surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 15
Sarah 10
Eliza 5
Elizabeth 5
Kate 5
Ann 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Alice 3
Harriet 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Elizh. 2
Frances 2
Ida 2
Lucy 2
Adeliza 1
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Clara 1
Delia 1
Edith 1
Elinor 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
Lousia 1
Magt. 1
Margaret 1
Marian 1
Olive 1
Priscilla 1
Rose 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Brookshaw surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 21
George 9
Henry 9
John 8
James 7
Thomas 6
Charles 5
Arthur 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Percy 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Agustine 1
Alexd. 1
Benj. 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Joe 1
Nelson 1
Saml. 1
Servetus 1
Thos. 1
Wallis 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Brookshaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brookshaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 207 people were recorded with the Brookshaw surname. That placed it at #12,555 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brookshaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016. That gives Brookshaw a modern rank of #13,640.

What does the Brookshaw surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a residence near a small stream or brook.

What does the Brookshaw map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brookshaw bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.